Workers' compensation: administrative hearings and medical examinations and treatments: interpreters.

Existing law requires certain state agencies, including the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, to provide language assistance in adjudicative proceedings. Existing law requires the State Personnel Board to establish, maintain, administer, and publish annually for these purposes an updated list of certified administrative hearing interpreters and medical examination interpreters it has determined meet certain minimum standards. This bill would also authorize the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to establish, maintain, administer, and publish annually an updated list of certified administrative hearing interpreters who, based on testing by an independent organization designated by the administrative director, have been determined to meet certain minimum standards, for purposes of administrative hearings and medical examinations conducted in connection with workers' compensation and appeals to the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board. This bill would require a reasonable fee to be collected from each interpreter seeking certification, to cover the reasonable regulatory costs of administering the program.